CASINOS

The Gambler Who Blew $127 Million. Andrew Black (gambling entrepreneur) - Wikipedia. Black and Wray launched Betfair in 2000, having secured £1m of investment from friends and family, having had requests for venture investment rejected by VC funds that they had approached.

Other bet exchanges launched at the same time, but worked on the basis of offering single bets which interested punters would then accept individually. Betfair operated on a model more similar to a financial exchange, allowing among other things, multiple small bets to fill a position offered by a gambler wishing to place a large stake on a wager.
How does it feel to lose £2million in a night's gambling?

With his rotund girth, expensive suits and deep pockets, the Syrian billionaire known in gaming circles as the 'Fat Man' was instantly recognisable to the casino staff.

Stepping inside the doors of Aspinalls, the most glamorous of the elite gambling establishments which make up Mayfair's so-called 'Golden Triangle', Fouad al-Zayat was whisked to his usual private room by fawning attendants. More here... • 'Fat Man' gambler who refused to honour £2m debt is told to pay up Dinner would, of course, be complimentary, the champagne free. And in return for their dedication, staff could expect lavish tips - al-Zayat once gave £1,000 to a casino hostess. This was, after all, a man who had gambled £150 million at the roulette wheel in recent years. On this particular night, however, the Fat Man's luck was about to run out. Even for him, this was a big hit, and in a fit of pique at the croupier, he refused to settle his debt. Not for them the prying eyes of the public gaming tables.

This Man Won $15M at Blackjack, How Did He Do It?
The Truth about Betting Systems - Wizard of Odds. Not only do betting systems fail to beat casino games with a house advantage, they can’t even dent it.

Roulette balls and dice simply have no memory. Every spin in roulette and every toss in craps is independent of all past events. In the short run you can fool yourself into thinking a betting system works, by risking a lot to win a little. However, in the long run no betting system can withstand the test of time. The longer you play, the ratio of money lost to money bet will get closer to the expectation for that game. In the many years that run this site I have received thousands of e-mails from believers in betting systems. Gambler's Fallacy The biggest gambling myth is that an event that has not happened recently becomes overdue and more likely to occur. No betting system can convert a subfair game into a profitable enterprise... — Probability and Measure (second edition, page 94) by Patrick Billingsley Vegas Click also has a good expose of the gambler’s fallacy.

Five of London's best high-roller casinos. The site of the original Crockfords, established in 1827.

It has been through many refurbishments but under London Clubs International, the opulence has been preserved. 50 St James 50 St James's Street, SW1 (020 7491 4678) Membership £1,000, but off-peak membership (until 9pm) is free.
Blackjack - Gaming Guides - Wizard of Vegas. Twitter1 Facebook6 Google3 Introduction Blackjack should need no introduction.

It is the most popular table game in the United States, and is easily found in casinos throughout the world. The object is simply to get more points than the dealer without going over 21. Rules Blackjack may be played with one to eight decks of 52-card decks. Hand Signals The player cards in blackjack are usually dealt face up, but in single-deck and double-deck games, they are dealt face down. Hit: In a face-up game, tap the table with your finger.

Wizard's Simple Strategy Through the years, I've learned that very few people have the will to memorize how to play every possible situation in blackjack. If you are not familiar with the terminology, a "hard" hand is one that has no aces, or one where aces are forced to count as one point, lest the hand bust. An "N" indicates the player should not split. With a total of hard 10 or 11, the player should double if he has more points than the dealer. Basic Strategy. Blackjack Pros Tell of their Biggest Wins and Losses. Winners and Losers: True Tales From the Blackjack Trenches.